The grayish-white fog receded like a tide, and the ancient, grand temple along with the warm study vanished together.
Lin Huai's consciousness snapped back sharply. He was still standing in the prayer room at the deepest part of the Fool's Church. The cross-dimensional conversation from moments ago felt like a dream.
The only difference was a mirror now in his hand. It felt cool to the touch and had a very ancient silver design.
"Arrodes..." he murmured softly.
"Great Master, Arrodes is at your service!" the mirror's excited yet reverent voice sounded in his mind.
Lin Huai took a deep breath and pushed open the prayer room's heavy wooden door.
Outside, the Hanged Man Alger had been waiting. The look in his eyes beneath the mask held more awe and scrutiny than before.
"Your Grace," Alger greeted respectfully.
"No need for formalities," Lin Huai waved his hand. "What about the passage back?"
"As the Lord wills." Alger wasted no time. He carefully took out a small box made of Beyonder materials. Opening it, a translucent worm wriggled slowly inside, its body shimmering with a crystal-like luster.
"This is a Spirit Worm, a creation of the Lord," Alger explained. "It can graft any door here onto the World you came from, sending you and your companion back."
Lin Huai nodded and took the Spirit Worm. Without delay, he led Alger to find Thor, who was waiting anxiously with Loki on his back.
Thor looked at the worm in Lin Huai's hand, his eyes full of curiosity and anticipation. He just wanted to take his brother back to Asgard quickly, to receive the best treatment.
Lin Huai walked to a small door on the side of the church leading to the backyard and gently pressed the Spirit Worm against the old wooden door.
The worm instantly liquefied, melting into an invisible fluid that seeped into the wood. The entire door shuddered violently, its surface erupting with countless twisted symbols before they vanished just as quickly.
Lin Huai gripped the doorknob, looked back at Thor, and asked, "Ready?"
Thor nodded firmly, readjusting the unconscious Loki on his back.
Lin Huai hesitated no longer and pushed the door open with force.
The expected sight of Asgard's golden, resplendent palace or the multicolored light of the Bifrost did not appear.
What lay beyond the door was a deafening cacophony!
The piercing shrieks of energy weapons, the terrified screams of crowds, and the sound of collapsing buildings all mixed together, violently assaulting their ears like a symphony of the apocalypse!
A strong smell of burning mixed with the odor of gunpowder hit their faces.
Before they could even react, a blue energy beam whizzed past the doorframe, accurately striking an alien soldier they had never seen before, who was riding some sort of flying vehicle.
The alien soldier didn't even have time to scream before exploding into a fireball in mid-air. Charred remains and metal fragments clattered down around Lin Huai's feet.
It was a face, ferocious and inhuman, staring at him with lifeless eyes.
Chitauri Soldier!
Lin Huai's pupils contracted sharply! He whipped his head around to look at the door he had just passed through. The frame was already dilapidated, and a few broken English letters could still be made out on the charred sign: "Shawarma Palace".
Shawarma..." he raised his head stiffly.
Above the city of towering skyscrapers, an enormous blue wormhole was slowly rotating. Countless Chitauri Soldiers and Leviathan beasts were pouring out of the wormhole endlessly, raining disaster and death upon this city called New York.
Isn't this... the Battle of New York from The Avengers 1?!
Lin Huai rubbed his eyes hard, then pinched his thigh fiercely. The intense pain told him this was not an illusion!
But how is this possible?!"
He instinctively looked at Thor and Loki beside him. Although Loki was listless due to severe soul trauma, he was indeed right here!
The number one traitor is right here, so who is standing atop Stark Tower right now, opening the portal and leading the alien army to invade Earth?
At that moment, a thunderous roar came from the distance.
Lin Huai followed the sound and saw a Leviathan beast roaring as it charged toward a skyscraper. But the next second, a massive green figure dropped from the sky and slammed onto the beast's head!
That green behemoth stood as firm as a mountain, unshakable, remaining steady no matter how the beast thrashed. Then, he raised his disproportionately thick arms, his hands were pitch-black, razor-sharp claws!
"RIIIIP—!"
Amid a grating sound of metal tearing, those enormous claws brutally ripped open the Leviathan's heavy armor, violently dismantling it from head to tail into a sky full of flying metal fragments!
Lin Huai was stunned once again.
That green giant... it's definitely the Hulk!
"Wise One, this is Midgard, how could it become like this..."
Loki was jolted awake by the commotion, and Thor stared at this unfamiliar scene in shock.
"I don't know." Lin Huai took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind, his gaze sharpening once again. "But we should definitely fight first."
He looked at the tide of Chitauri Soldiers, then glanced up at the swirling wormhole in the sky, which was directly above the Stark Tower he knew all too well.
"Let's go! We need to head over there!"
After speaking, a "bang" sounded from Lin Huai's mouth. An air bullet accurately blasted a Chitauri Soldier that was diving toward them. He charged forward, leading the way against the enemy tide.
"Loki, you stay here for now."
"For Asgard!"
Thor roared, carefully placing the unconscious Loki in a corner of the ruined restaurant. He then gripped Mjolnir tightly, following Lin Huai into the fray.
The two of them became a sharp spearhead, forcefully tearing a path through the chaotic battlefield, pushing toward Stark Tower. Every swing of Thor's hammer created a shockwave that cleared swaths of Chitauri Soldiers, while Lin Huai used Flame Leap to nimbly maneuver across the battlefield, his precise air bullets picking off any stragglers trying to flank them.
As they advanced, a sharp sonic boom came from the side. A red-and-gold figure streaked past at high speed, its chest repulsor blasting a Chitauri flier into pieces.
It's a mark armor!
"Hey! Over here!" Lin Huai quickly waved and shouted toward it.
The mark armor obviously noticed them. It circled around and landed steadily in front of the three, its faceplate sliding up to reveal a face that was both shocked and familiar.
"Lin? Is that really you? Tony said you were back, but I didn't believe it!"
"Colonel Rhodes!" Lin Huai stepped forward. "Where's Tony? What the hell is going on? How did I end up in an alien invasion right after coming back?"
Rhodes opened his mouth, but before he could answer, a dazzling white light erupted in the sky above!
A nimble figure holding a pure white circular shield was flipping and maneuvering in mid-air. The shield in his hand flew in graceful arcs, accurately knocking down Chitauri Soldiers before returning to him.
"Bang!"
The figure landed steadily in front of them. It was Steve Rogers!
He was wearing the familiar star-spangled uniform, but his face was marked with strange glowing symbols.
"Long time no see, consultant." Steve's face broke into a smile as he looked at Lin Huai, his eyes showing the joy of reunion.
"Tony told me you were back, so I came to find you." His gaze swept over the devastated surroundings, his expression turning serious. "We could really use your help right now, Mr. consultant."